Thinking Allowed...

Sunday, 23 March 2014

Australiana 101: The Political Landscape

Landscape.
Australia has a lot of it and, in recognition of this, is also known to
Australians as the Big Country. Okay, it may look smallish on a world map but,
in defence of this particular soubriquet, it is the only country to occupy an
entire continent and it’s about the same size as the US mainland so we reckon
it’s a fair enough description. It is a landscape that is geologically,
geographically, historically and socially abundant – though, in terms of
politics, it isn’t as richly dense as, say, the UK or US political scenery.
However, it is rich in its own unique way.

The reasons
for this lie in the fundamental differences between Australia and those
afore-mentioned countries. Firstly, we have compulsory voting. Secondly, we
have a devil-may-care attitude, summed up neatly in the popular sayings:
“she’ll be right, mate” and “no worries” (or, if you really feel the need for
passionate emphasis, “no wucking furries”). It’s an attitude of casual
indifference that pervades our approach to politics, particularly when the
system is working fairly well as was the case in the first half of 2011 in the
lead up to a federal election.

To give them
their due, the Australian news media did their best to whip up some interest in
the election but they were pushing manure up hill, as the saying very nearly
goes. Predictably, they commissioned various polls which, unlike those
countries with voluntary voting, was guaranteed to at least canvass actual
voters. The media were excited by the results which indicated that the election
would be a close one and subsequently wheeled out various political pundits to
warn of the dire consequences of a hung parliament (in which neither of the two
major political parties win a sufficient majority of seats to claim victory).

This was
possibly the only message that had any effect on the Australian voting public.
In a year, indeed in a country, that lacked political excitement (we haven’t
even had a halfway decent political scandal since the 1970s) a hung parliament
looked just the thing to get the pollies (politicians) jumping and that’s
exactly the result we gave them. It took nearly two weeks for them to sort out
who would govern, during which time the handful of Independents and Green Party
members who held the balance of power in their usually empty hands, had an
absolute ball in the limelight. All (with the possible exception of the
pollies) agreed that a hung parliament was well worth the entertainment value.

Now I doubt
that this result would have happened if we hadn’t had compulsory voting because
it owed so much to the heads-or-tails style of decision-making. It was
statistics at its most sublime random indifference, producing the kind of 50-50
result that you’d expect from multiple tosses of a coin that occasionally lands
on its edge (the ‘edge’ outcome representing that happy handful of Independents
and Greens).

It also
illustrates the need for compulsory voting in this country because, frankly, if
it wasn’t compulsory, too many people just wouldn't bother. Our version of
political founding fathers, that long-bearded and gravely serious group (I’m going
by old photographs here), were obviously aware of this Australian attitude back
in 1900 as they planned for federated independence which took place on the 1st
January 1901. As a side note, they also included suffrage for women at the
outset since women in various colonies had had the vote since the 1880s and
weren’t about to be left out, thank you very much. Besides, in a domestic world
devoid of white goods, who had the time to chain themselves to a fence?

The thinking
that keeps compulsory voting in place falls roughly into two camps which, as
you will see, philosophically converge. There’s the “beastly careless” camp, so
redolent of our national attitude, best illustrated by the following. Every
election, some lone voice in the media rants about the case for voluntary
voting. Since it is evident that they have expended considerable energy in
doing so, counter to the nonchalant apathy which we consider to be the only
justifiable case for voluntary voting, they are summarily ignored.

The alternate
argument is much stronger: no right exists independent of its accompanying
responsibility which in this case translates as: “if you don’t exercise a
right, you effectively surrender that right and we’re not about to give up any
rights!” It’s an irony in our national psyche that, while we are generally very
casual, we are also indefatigable in our determination never to surrender. It’s
a battle-field attitude most obvious in the sporting arena – but that’s a whole
other article.

Compulsory
voting also protects our right to vote in that every effort is made to ensure
that it’s not only possible for all but also easy (fitting in nicely with our
national attitude). Voting is always on a Saturday, starts early and finishes
late, with booths located in schools, church halls and other venues within easy
reach of locals. There’s also early voting by mail or in person and absentee
voting for those who happen to find themselves out of their electorate on the
day. No ID is required and I cannot recall a single case of voter fraud during
my lifetime (that’s not to say there hasn’t been, just that I can’t recall any
and just one case would be big news here).

So that’s
pretty much it. If you were expecting a dissertation on the differences between
our various political parties and the pros and cons of policies, I hope you’re
not too disappointed. I will say that we’ve had universal health care in place
for some decades now and we like it – it's about "looking after your
mates", as the Australian saying goes, and it just makes life that much
easier and fairer - we’re all for that. It’s supported by both ends of the
political spectrum and by the vast majority of us who are not about to
relinquish any right, especially one that works so well and so conspicuously and positively
represents the public good for all.

With a minimum
of intervention on our behalf, it all works and works so well that we heartily
recommend our political system to everyone; that is, we would if it didn’t
involve a vigorous expenditure of passionate energy – we’re saving that for the
sport this weekend. Go Australia!

Monday, 28 October 2013

The 2014 midterm Congressional elections will be the most
critical of this century. The outcome will determine the direction of the
country – moderate left or extreme right, that’s the choice.

It shouldn’t be. But
since the Tea Party insinuated themselves into the Republican Party, the GOP
has been dragged further and further to the right, so much so that most of them
would need a telescope to see moderate right, centrist or bipartisan positions
which have become hopelessly isolated on their political map.

The Tea Party’s political provenance and motivations are
discussed at length by everyone ranging from political scientists, historians
and pundits to voters caught up in the maelstrom that is the Tea Party’s surge to
political and media prominence.

It may be summarised as follows: Tea Party proponents see the
USA as the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet and it is their
objective to ensure that this perception is strengthened at every turn.

As with all such summaries, it’s superficial – there are much
deeper and more complex reasons motivating them. However, for all its superficiality,
it’s accurate enough – wealth and power are at the top of their agenda. What’s
more, they are supported and funded by the corporate wealthy and powerful – to the
tune of multi-billions of dollars.

Consider for a moment this as a possible future: a Tea Party
majority in both chambers of Congress.

Worse-case scenario: legislation passed to repeal social
security, Medicare, Medicaid and all affordable health care; environmental
legislation relaxed to the point of impotency; a major boost in Defense
spending; no tax for the top 4-5% of income earners and increased taxes on the
lowest 60%, just to name a few.

Best-case scenario: you’re just imaging this for the moment;
it isn’t reality in the present day.

Ok, now you’ve had time to consider this, what will you do to
prevent it ever happening? I’ve been considering this over the past four weeks
or so and come up with the following: brainstorm, get creative and get active!

First, of course, is to commit to turning up at the polling
booth and voting. That’s one vote. Now, because there has to be as many votes as
possible, how do we accrue more? There’s a trend in American politics for
voters of the party of the current President not to bother too much with
midterm voting. It’s a trend that has to be bucked in 2014.

“Boots on the ground” is a phrase I’ve seen often but it
needs to be teased out into specifics. There has to be an action plan –
actually, there has to be multiple action plans – and it shouldn’t be left entirely
in the hands of the same few campaigners. Groundswell is all very well but a
tidal wave is better.

1. Get a working action group together. Talk to friends and
colleagues. Is there a college nearby with a Young Democrats group? Are there
volunteer groups (who readily understand the plight of the impoverished),
community groups, knitting circles, book clubs? Don’t limit your thinking and
don’t stop until you have your group.

2. Survey your area. I suggest something like this:

Survey of [area]

I/We are surveying the local area on voting trends. Just a
couple of questions to start with:

PART A

1. Are you a registered voter? YES NO

2. Do you lean towards

Republicans
Tea Party
Democrats
independents
swing

If participants answer Republicans or Tea Party, thank them
for their participation and move on.

The next part of the survey will require your group members
to be deputized to register voters and have registration forms on hand.

PART B:

If participant is not registered to vote:

1. Would you appreciate some assistance in registering
to vote, because we can help with that?

YESNO

If participant answers NO, thank them for their
participation and move on.

If participant answers YES, organize it on the spot.

Part C is
all about how to get prospective voters to the polling booth:

PART C:

1. Is there anything which might prevent you, or make it
difficult for you, to vote in the 2014

midterm elections? YES NO

2. If YES, would you need the following:

a babysitter transport to the nearest polling
booth? other

Note down any relevant details volunteered by
participant.

3. May I note down your name and address so we can get
back to you with ways to help

you out with this? YES NO

4. Would it be more convenient for you to vote early or
by postal vote?

vote early postal vote vote on the day

How group members handle the fourth question will depend very
much on state law governing early voting and postal votes. Some allow for ‘no
excuse’ voting on one or both of these, some don’t.

The last part of the survey is aimed at giving them a reason
to vote Democrat.

PART D:

1. Do you qualify for affordable health care? YES NO

2. If YES, have you applied for affordable health care? YES NO

3. If NO, would you like us to help you enroll? YES NO

3. Recruit others along the way if there’s an opening to do
so.

4. Get your group together to brainstorm solutions for those
prospective voters who may have difficulty getting to the polling booth on the
day. For example; organize volunteer babysitters, bus/car transport with
book-in sheets etc (organizing a bus with signs on either side that read “Voting
for a fairer America” would be a nice touch!).

5. Stay in contact with prospective voters in a hands-on way,
particularly those who need assistance of some kind. Get them registered for
affordable health care, get on the babysitting bandwagon in advance, help out
with other tasks like shopping etc. Don’t lecture, teach or argue but do engage
them some casual political discussion.

6. If possible, locate a film crew – amateur, volunteer,
whatever. Invite them to film your group’s activities, especially those in
which they are helping prospective voters. Offer these short documentaries to
local, state and national media. It’s another very effective way of campaigning
when you’re showing a positive image of the Democrat party working at a local
level.

7. Stay in touch with your local Democrat campaign office so
they can help you help others.

8. Stay within the law no matter what!

9. Be kind, be generous, be the most positive and
compassionate face of the party that you can be.

10. Enjoy the experience! It’s a great thing you’ll be doing
but don’t let it be too serious – let a lot of laughter in!

So there it is: my outline for an action plan. Should you
want to use any part of this, please go right ahead!

As I said at the beginning: these are the most critical midterm
elections of this century so mark the occasion with a record high turn-out of
Democrat voters!